1) How are the Chinese soldiers portrayed in these prints? The Japanese soldiers? The Chinese soldiers are portrayed as helpless, weak soldiers who always lose and die. Conversely, the Japanese soldiers are portrayed as powerful and fearless, never losing or dying.
2) Look at the weapons used by each side, are they different? How? Does this tell us anything about Japanese technological advancement? The weapons for each side are very different. The Japanese weapons are much more modernized and advanced. Westernization in Japan can be seen as a good thing through these prints.
3) Why do sports often become symbolic battlegrounds between nations? When countries are not at war, sports promote nationalistic pride and countries "fight" each other to win. Just like war, in sports, there is almost always a winner and a loser. .Why does this matter to a people? What do they find so gratifying in the experience of witnessing their team beat another on the arena of sport?
4) Is imperialism/colonialism simply about militarily and politically controlling another nation, or is it also about proving one’s self-perceived cultural superiority over another? Imperialism is also about proving one's self perceived-cultural superiority over another. The control one might have over another is also self-assurance that his/her culture is superior.
Russo-Japanese War
1. Do artistic renditions or photographs depict the heroics of war better?
They depict the heroics of war better because it is difficult to exaggerate or manipulate the scene in which an event is going on through photographs. Artistic renditions, however, may not depict the heroics as well as the photographs do, because an artist can produce propaganda.
2. Do artistic renditions or photographs depict the horrors of war better? (Consider all photographs of war that you have seen, both historical and contemporary)
Photographs depict the horrors of war better for the same reason they can depict the heroics of war better. Taking a picture of corpses and executions definitely depict the hours of war. Artistic renditions may also do the same, but again, propaganda can be produced.
The medium affects the message because depending on the medium, we are able to predict how much the image is manipulated. So the message delivered by certain medium would be re-evaluated by our knowledge of the potential manipulation. However, it would be an overstatement to say "the medium is the message," because the content matters also.
4. Why is 1905 such a turning point in Japanese and World history? How might history have been different had Japan lost the Russo-Japanese War?
1905 is a turning point in Japanese and world history because it was the first time ever that an Asian power defeated a Western power. Had they lost the war, they would not have become so confident and powerful, nor would they have kept Korea.
Gabo Reform Edicts & The Charter of Oath of 1868
1. How are these documents alike? Be specific in showing exactly how they are similar.
These two documents are both taking steps in establishing equality among the social classes.In the Gabo Reform Edicts, #7 states the sinbun class system is to be abolished; similarly, the Charter of Oath of 1868 states in #2 that all classes shall unite. They also both discuss opening up education to a wider audience.
2. How are these documents different? Be specific in showing how exactly they are different.
The Charter of Oath of 1868 is attempting to give citizens and lower class people more rights, while the Gabo Reform Edicts slightly favors the talented and higher class people. While the Gabo Reform Edicts opens up education only to those who are talented, the Charter of Oath of 1868 opens it up to all classes including the common people.
3. What ultimately, is their purpose?
To establish equality and satisfy the citizens of the respective countries.
4. These were very lofty goals for both people to try to achieve. To what degree do you feel the Koreans and the Japanese were able to achieve their objectives.
Compared to Japan, Korea did not achieve as many goals as it could have. Korea failed to completely abolish the sinbun class; moreover, discrimination between classes still existed. Japan, however, achieved a higher level of equality by showing respect to its lower class people. Today, we can see both countries are some of the most influential and strongest countries not only in Asia, but all over the world.
1) How are the Chinese soldiers portrayed in these prints? The Japanese soldiers?
The Chinese soldiers are portrayed as helpless, weak soldiers who always lose and die. Conversely, the Japanese soldiers are portrayed as powerful and fearless, never losing or dying.
2) Look at the weapons used by each side, are they different? How? Does this tell us anything about Japanese technological advancement?
The weapons for each side are very different. The Japanese weapons are much more modernized and advanced. Westernization in Japan can be seen as a good thing through these prints.
3) Why do sports often become symbolic battlegrounds between nations?
When countries are not at war, sports promote nationalistic pride and countries "fight" each other to win. Just like war, in sports, there is almost always a winner and a loser. .Why does this matter to a people? What do they find so gratifying in the experience of witnessing their team beat another on the arena of sport?
4) Is imperialism/colonialism simply about militarily and politically controlling another nation, or is it also about proving one’s self-perceived cultural superiority over another?
Imperialism is also about proving one's self perceived-cultural superiority over another. The control one might have over another is also self-assurance that his/her culture is superior.
Russo-Japanese War
1. Do artistic renditions or photographs depict the heroics of war better?
They depict the heroics of war better because it is difficult to exaggerate or manipulate the scene in which an event is going on through photographs. Artistic renditions, however, may not depict the heroics as well as the photographs do, because an artist can produce propaganda.
2. Do artistic renditions or photographs depict the horrors of war better? (Consider all photographs of war that you have seen, both historical and contemporary)
Photographs depict the horrors of war better for the same reason they can depict the heroics of war better. Taking a picture of corpses and executions definitely depict the hours of war. Artistic renditions may also do the same, but again, propaganda can be produced.
3. How does the medium affect the message? Can we say that, "[T]he medium is the message"?
The medium affects the message because depending on the medium, we are able to predict how much the image is manipulated. So the message delivered by certain medium would be re-evaluated by our knowledge of the potential manipulation. However, it would be an overstatement to say "the medium is the message," because the content matters also.
4. Why is 1905 such a turning point in Japanese and World history? How might history have been different had Japan lost the Russo-Japanese War?
1905 is a turning point in Japanese and world history because it was the first time ever that an Asian power defeated a Western power. Had they lost the war, they would not have become so confident and powerful, nor would they have kept Korea.
Gabo Reform Edicts & The Charter of Oath of 1868
1. How are these documents alike? Be specific in showing exactly how they are similar.
These two documents are both taking steps in establishing equality among the social classes.In the Gabo Reform Edicts, #7 states the sinbun class system is to be abolished; similarly, the Charter of Oath of 1868 states in #2 that all classes shall unite. They also both discuss opening up education to a wider audience.
2. How are these documents different? Be specific in showing how exactly they are different.
The Charter of Oath of 1868 is attempting to give citizens and lower class people more rights, while the Gabo Reform Edicts slightly favors the talented and higher class people. While the Gabo Reform Edicts opens up education only to those who are talented, the Charter of Oath of 1868 opens it up to all classes including the common people.
3. What ultimately, is their purpose?
To establish equality and satisfy the citizens of the respective countries.
4. These were very lofty goals for both people to try to achieve. To what degree do you feel the Koreans and the Japanese were able to achieve their objectives.
Compared to Japan, Korea did not achieve as many goals as it could have. Korea failed to completely abolish the sinbun class; moreover, discrimination between classes still existed. Japan, however, achieved a higher level of equality by showing respect to its lower class people. Today, we can see both countries are some of the most influential and strongest countries not only in Asia, but all over the world.
Timeline of Korean History
Link to timeline : http://www.dipity.com/jwjeong13/Turning-Points-in-Korean-History/
Works Cited
1) Assassination of Queen Min. 15 May 2011. JPEG file. <http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Eulmi_Incident>.
2) Borthwick, Mark. The Pacific Century. Honolulu: Pacific Basin Institute, 2007. Print.
3) "Eulmi Incident ." New World Encyclopedia. Web. 15 May 2011. <http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Eulmi_Incident>.
4) Taewon'gun. 15 May 2011. JPEG file. <http://hanulh.egloos.com/4506410>.
5) "Treaty of Ganghwa." Absolute Astronomy. Web. 15 May 2011. <http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Treaty_of_Ganghwa>.
6) Treaty of Kanghwa. 15 May 2011. JPG file. <http://www.dokdo-takeshima.com/wordpress/wp-content/images/dokdo-comic5.jpg>.
7) "Treaty of Kanghwa." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Web. 15 May. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/311087/Treaty-of-Kanghwa>.